[August 13, 2015]

Lawsuit from E. coli Death Linked to The Learning Vine Daycare Facility Filed by PritzkerOlsen Attorneys

Attorneys for the family of a 2-year old boy who died after developing complications from an E. coli infection, which was linked to the child's daycare facility, filed a wrongful death lawsuit today on the family's behalf. The child attended The Learning Vine daycare in Greenwood, South Carolina at the time of his death on May 31, 2015 and was one of 14 identified victims of the E. coli outbreak linked to the facility.

Attorneys Eric Hageman and Ryan Osterholm of PritzkerOlsen, P.A., along with local counsel, filed the suit in the State of South Carolina Court of Common Pleas, Eighth Judicial Circuit 2015-CP-24-00794. In explaining the basis for the lawsuit, lead attorney Hageman said, "this was an entirely preventable tragedy. While I'm sure no one at The Learning Vine wanted this to happen, it happened because this daycare didn't follow the rules. Parents have a right to expect that daycare facilities to whichthey entrust their children will follow basic safety and hygiene regulations in place to protect them. Here, that didn't happen and this family is entitled to know why."

According to the Complaint, the first case of E. coli O157:H7 connected to The Learning Vine was a teacher who exhibited symptoms from May 3-11, 2015, but was then allowed to return to work without being tested to determine if she was infectious. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) was not notified of the teacher's illness until May 18, 2015. The lawsuit also alleges The Learning Vine failed to notify parents of children in its daycare that one of its employees was infected with E. coli, in violation of South Carolina law.

When The Learning Vine was finally inspected in late May, the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) issued citations for fourteen deficiencies under South Carolina's Child Care Licensing Law. A list of some of these deficiencies can be found on the PritzkerOlsen website.

PritzkerOlsen, a national law firm, helps people sickened in E. coli outbreaks and their families. The firm is currently investigating an E.coli outbreak in Indiana also associated with a daycare. Attorneys Eric Hageman and Ryan Osterholm can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or via the firm website, www.pritzkerlaw.com. The firm's offices are located in Minneapolis, MN.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150813006155/en/

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